Lend First

About Lend First

LendFirst is based at Shuttleworth Mead Business Park in Padiham, Lancashire, and operates from within the Group First premises — a property development and construction group with over 25 years of direct experience building and managing property across the UK. That development background shapes how LendFirst approaches lending: not as a distant institution processing applications, but as a team that genuinely understands what developers face at each stage of a project.

The lender is positioned for experienced property professionals rather than first-time investors. Applicants must have a solid track record in UK property development, investment or management, and the credit criteria are intentionally clear: no County Court Judgments, no defaults or secured loan arrears, and no history of bankruptcy or IVAs. That selectivity allows LendFirst to make fast, confident decisions without layers of caveats or conditions.

For existing clients, drawdowns can be completed within 24 hours — a meaningful operational advantage for developers who need to manage cash flow across active projects. Michael Clavell-Bate, who spent over 25 years at Eversheds and served as President of the Manchester Law Society, contributes senior legal expertise to the business.

Bridging Loans from LendFirst

LendFirst lends from £50,000 to £5 million, with terms up to 12 months and LTVs up to 75%. Rates at 1.00% per month, with retained interest for the full term. Arrangement fee 1%, exit fee 1%, lender legal costs 0.5% of the net loan (minimum £750). Valuations are at the lender's discretion. Borrowers must be aged 18 or over, and the lender accepts limited companies, partnerships, LLPs and sole traders.

What Can LendFirst Finance?

• Residential investment purchase and refinance
• Commercial property — including car parks and specialist assets
• Property development and refurbishment
• Auction purchases with fast completion requirements
• Capital raise against unencumbered investment property

How to Apply with LendFirst

LendFirst works directly with experienced borrowers and through commercial finance intermediaries. Initial enquiries can be made online for an instant quote indication, or by phone to the Padiham office. The team aims to provide a funding decision within hours for most cases, and existing clients can access 24-hour drawdowns.